A method for selective quantitation of catechin, proanthocyanidin (PAC) A2 and PAC-B1 in American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) extracts using high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC)-densitometry is presented. Methylene chloride/ethyl acetate/formic acid (6:10:1, v/v) as the mobile phase and 1% vanillin hydrochloric solution as staining reagent were used. In these conditions, three standards considered as quality markers, catechin, PAC-A2 and PAC-B1, were well resolved allowing simultaneous quantitation on one plate. All standards were quantified in the range of 0.7-5 μg with RSD of repeatability and intermediate precision not exceeding 5%. Catechin, PAC-A2 and PAC-B1 profiles of cranberry extracts were analysed regarding global PAC amounts obtained by BL-DMAC assay. It appears clearly that HPTLC-densitometry process provides additional information which, combined with BL-DMAC results, allows qualitative and quantitative control of cranberry extracts. Particularly, densitometric assay highlighted degradation of PACs in a 7 day-extract, leading to high overestimation with BL-DMAC protocol.
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